March 23, 2010

Hopefully by now the real grass you have been growing for your Easter baskets is looking great -- there's still time left if it needs a bit more sun to spring up! In the meantime, get a jumpstart on making your eco-friendly Easter baskets. Here are three green and economical homemade Easter basket ideas using items right out of your fridge!

Materials You Will Need:

Pipe cleaners

Berry baskets

Plastic clamshell container that fruit or veggies come in

Tape

Glue

Scissors

Stapler

Stickers

Ribbon

Silk or real flowers

Juice or milk carton

Colored paper

Berry Simple Easter Basket

I used a berry basket that my strawberries were packaged in from our local farmers market, looped some ribbon through the slots, and put a pipe cleaner through the sides as a handle. This sweet and petite basket makes a great Easter party favor or teacher gift.

Clamshell Cutie Easter Basket

I used the plastic container that fruit or veggies come packaged in at the grocery store, and simply punched one hole on each side of the clamshell, then looped a pipe cleaner through the holes to make the handle.

'See the Carton as Half Full' Easter Basket

1. Another basket idea is to use an empty juice or milk carton -- rinse out and air dry.

2. Next, cut out the side that has the spout.

3. Take your colored paper and measure it against the carton, tracing out each side, then covering each side with the colored paper, using either tape or glue.

4. Take another piece of colored paper and cut out a long piece about 2 inches wide for your handle. Staple it to the carton. You can use flowers or stickers to cover the staple.